Improvement in telegraph-signals



`and sustained in position at suitable distances PATENT OEETCE.

WILLIAM HENRY WARD, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TELEGRAPH-SIGNALS.

Speciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,561, dated December 5, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, WILLIAM HENRY WARD, of Auburn, in the county of Cayuga and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Day, Night, and Fog-Signal Telegraph and appliances therefor, of which the following is a specilication -My invention relates to a system for signaltelegraphing by day, night, and during fogs, on land and at sea; and the said system consists of indicating the alphabet, numbers, or other signs by means of raising or lowering a working iiag or light to or from a stationary flag or light arranged in the same vertical line with the working one, whereby a continuous signaling can be done without being obliged to make different arrangement of different-colored flags or lights for each distinctive letter, number, or other sign, While the motion of a working tlag or light relatively to a stationary one can be seen at a greater distance with more positive certainty than the colors of liags or lights arranged closely to each other could be distinguished from each other. My invention further consists in the construc tion and arrangement ofthe signal-lantern used for night-signaling, as Will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 repre sents a vertical section of a lantern used in connection with my night-signal telegraph. Fig. 2 represents an inverted view of the perforated cap of the lantern. Fig. 3 represents a top View of the bottom of the lantern, which forms the candle-stand. Fig. 4 represents the means for day-signal telegraphing. Fig. 5 represent-s the manner of suspendingand operating the lanterns for night-signal telegraphing. Fig. 6 represents the numerals as signified by live white lights. Fig. 7 represents the numerals as signiled by three lanterns showing white and red lights. Fig. 8 represents live standing significations or distinct signals, signified by red lights. Fig. 9 represents the standing alphabet, signified by the use of white and red lights; and Fig. 10 represents the alphabet and numerals, signified by the dip of the iiag by day, the obscuring of they light by night, and distinct sounds during fogs.

In using the lanterns they are suspended by halyards to the gaff-arm or other convenient parts of the ship where they can be distinctly seen. They are arranged vertically one above the other,

one from the other, so as to give range and dis tinctness to the signal.

rEhe lantern consists of a case, c, open at both ends, the upper end of which is curved inward to form a seat for the outer magnifying-glass or lens A, while the lower end is closed by the base B, or candle-stand, which forms the bottom of said case. This bottom has a chamber, D, formed on its under side, with perforations therein, and also in the bottom B for the admission of cold air into said chamber D, and from them into the lantern to supply the burner. rlhe object of this chamber is to destroy the force of outer blasts of wind, preserve the steadiness of the light, and prevent its extinguishment. The bottom Bis provided with a short tube, b, for the reception ofthe candle-tube c, and to which it is connected by the ordinary bayonet-fastening. The candletube c is provided with a spiral spring, E, to force the candle up as it burns away. The lens A is of the Fresnel kind, to give range and distinctness to the light. The dome F, with its chimney G, is made of one piece of sheet metal, known as spun-work, thereby avoiding all seams and solder. Its base has an inward incline, c', to forma seat for the dome upon the lens A, and the lens thus placed between the case a and dome F is secured in position with these parts by means of screw-rods f connected to brackets d and e secured to the case and dome, and by which the said parts of the lantern are securely held together. The cap H of the dome is litted upon and secured to the chimney by the usual bayonet-fastening, which admits of its ready removal for lighting and extinguishing the light, and to facilitate the cleansing ofthe lantern. It is formed of spun-work, and made with an upper chamber, g, by means ot' an inner semicircular lining, h, the object of which chamber is to keep the cap cool, and the latter, for this purpose, is perforated so as to allow the cold air to circulate within said chamber. The neck G of the dome is provided with a flange, s, which curves upward, outward, and slightly downward, so as to form a curved guard, against which the blast impinges, is directed, and forced out at leeward. The colored cylinder-glass J is arranged within the lantern in such manner as to admit of being raised and lowered at pleasure by securing said glass cylinder J between annular plates i, which are fitted to move upon vertical guide-rods j supported by brackets k attached to the inner sides ot' the vase 11 and dolne F, and l which serve to lin1it both thv ns1-ent and dvsvvnt ofthe colored glass within the lantern, as shown in Fig. l. This glass lnay bv ot' one 111' 111111-v Colors having the greatest distinvtnvssand range, 1 and is operated by attaching a vhan. l. thereto. passing overa pulley, 111, svvurvd to thv side ot' the dolne F, and having a ring, 11. to whivh a small line is attached extending within rvavh ot' and controlled by the operator, as shown in Fig. 5, enabling l1i1n to raise and lower thv volorvd glass cylinder to envelop and change the color 0f the light t`1o111 whitv to that ot' thv cylinder within. In addition to the within volorvdvglass cylinder, an outer screen-vnvelopv, K, is arranged to slide upon the outer vertical rods/'by n1ea11s of a chain or cord, 11, extending also to and vontrolled by the said operator. The lantern thus constructed is provided within an upper and lower bail, L, by whivh it is suspended between the guy-lines M, Fig. 5.

It will be seen, b v rvi'vrvnvv to Fig. 5 ot thv drawing, that the operator has vontrol ot' thv outer screen-enrolopvs and thv inner volorvdglass cylinders, enabling hin1 to obscure any one or inore otl the lights or change thvir color t'roin White to that ot' thv cylinder within at plvasurv, forming combinations indicating thv' nulnvrals and letters oi" thv alphabet, as shown at Figs. ti. 7. andi) ofthe drawing, whivh vonstitutvs thv nightsignal telegraph.

By this arrangement and operation ot' thv lantern I ani enabled to gain a great advantage in the simplicity and certainty with whivh nightsignals will bv understood; t'or by arranging Several of these lanterns one above thv other and allowing one or any desired nun1ber ot theln to act as stationary lights, while the rest or a single one may be used as workil1g-lantvrns; and thus not only will thv lightsot' thv stationary lanterns 1 by their relative position to thv working-light or l lights ati'ord one 111 n1orv positivv points t`1'o1n which to determine thv change in volor or thv total eclipse oi' thv working-light, but thv rvlative position of thv working` to thv stationary lights may be changed instantly without lower ing the lanterns and changing` their relative p11- sitions above vavh other, as any and vithvrot' them, by reason of their separately-o11erated obscuring or coloringslides, van bv n1a1lv to avt as stationary or as working lights.

To represent thv nun1vrals, as shown in Fig. t5, tive lanterns are vertically arranged' onv above anothe as shown in Fig. T1, showing whitv ligths only, and are used tor long ranges out ot' thv disv tinct vision of a colored light, in whivh thv operator does not n1ove thv colored glasses within, but uses the outer screenenvelopes in suvh n1anner as to forni combinations corresponding to thv table shown in Fig. ti in thv following n1annvrthat is to say, one white light indicates l; two white lights, 2; and so on up to 4 in succession, while 5 is indicated by one whitv light, one spave or obscured light, and two white lights. (i is i11- dieated by a white light, space, and three white lights. 7 is the reverse ot' 5. 8 is indicated by the centerl light of the tive being obscured. 9

| t'our, l); tive, E; six, F; and seven is G.

is the reverse of 6; and the cipher is represented by exhibiting all thv live lights, which systen'1 is designated t'ron1 the others by showing; and obsvuring thv said tive whitelights simultaneously by thv operator taking hold ol' and pulling the ol1scuration-work lines at one pull tora t'ew tilnes in working succession, signifying to the signaled parties that a numerical message is to be signaled by whitv lights exclusively.

'l`o indicate thv numerals t'ronl 1 to 0 by white and colored lights three lanterns are only required. corresponding to the table shown in Fig. T, the shaded spots in which indicate colored l lights, and are exhibited and operated in a inanner corresponding to that already desvribed in illustrating thv table shown in Fig. (i.

To indicate letters oil the alphabet, t'our lanterns are used in c11rrespondingI 1nanner to that above described; and to signify when such alphabet is to be used four white lights are shown and obscured a t'ew tilnes in succession, indicating a message by spelling.

The table shown in Fig. l() is used in connec tion with a Hag, shown in Fig'. 4, t'or day; and one lantern, whivh nlay be used between two tixed lights, it' necessary, so as to keep range, for night. lt is also used with any lneans at hand t'or making distinct sounds during t'ogs in the t'ollowing manner-that is to say, the tirst seven dips ot' thv tlag, or obscurations otl the light, or distinct sounds, indicate the tirst seven letters of the alphabet; thus, one is A; 2 is L; three, C; The remaining letters oi' the alphabet are indicated by thv double-colulnn changes, and in no case exvvvding the seven dips for any one letter; viz.: (lne and two is ll; one and three, I; one and t'our, J; one and tive, K; one and six, L; two and one, M; two and two, N; two and three, O; two and t'our, l; two and live, Q; three and one, It; thrvv and two, S; three and three, T; three and t'our, l'; t'our and one,V; four and two, YV; t'our and three, X; tive and one, Y; tive and two, Z; and six and one is The ntnnerals are no less signitivant in the order of triple-column 1livision, as t'ollows, viz.: One, two, one is 1; one, two, two, L; one, two, three, 3; one, two, four, 4; one, three, one, .'1; 011e, three, two, 6; one, three, thrvv, T; one, four, one, S; one, four, two, t); and one, tive, one is 0; absorbing all the changes that can be et'ected by having l in the tirst column. as shown in Fig. 10.

'lo telegraph bythe table in Fig. 10, for exan1ple, to indicate the letters A O B, by day, for long ranges, onv stationary1 Hag, l), is hoisted by an independent halyard, and also a work-Hag, t), is hoisted by another halyard in such manner as to allow ot considerable slack, as shown at R, Fig. 4, so that by the operator letting' go the slack ot' the line the Hag Q is separated from the tiag l, which niovenlcnt is termed a dip. Then by hoisting the flag Q up to its position with ag l, as shown, and then letting go again to dip, indicates the letter A, at which point the tag rests a little. The operator then repeats this movement twice in quick succession, and then waits a little and repeats the same movements three times in quick succession, allowing the ilag to rest at dip for the usual Wait-time between letters of the alphabet, signifying O, as will be seen by the table, Fig. 10, When he again repeats the operation twice in quick succession, and running the flag up in position and holding it there, signifying that the signal is tinished, thus indicating the letter B, which said signaled letters when put together indicate A O B, which signifies all on board.

The obscuration ofthe light corresponding to that ofthe dip in the iag will indicate the same system for signals for night; and by distinct sounds the same system is rendered intelligible for signaling during fogs.

The great advantage of my improved system is its great simplicity and the consequent rapidity with which signals can be made and read, no hauling down of flags and lanterns to change their relative positions to vindicate dierent numerals being necessary, but the signals being made Without stopping by merely operating the halyards of the working ag or of the working lantern-slides.

Although more than two ags or lights may be used, only two are necessary-that is to say, a stationary and a Working one. rlhe system of electric-telegraph signals can, therefore, be Well applied by my invention, the long and short stops or clicks of the latter being in my system indicated by the quick or slow operation of the nag and the intervals between the obscuring of the' Working light.

Having described my invention, I claiml. The herein-described system of signaling by means ot' two flags, lights, or their equivalents, one of which is stationary while the other is a workin g one, the signals being indicated by the relative movement of the latter toward the former, as set fort-h.

2. In the above-described system of signaling, lanterns so constructed each with its separate slides and opera-tin g halyards, that, when permanently arranged above each other in a vertical line, either and all of them may be changed from one spot and by the same operator to stationary or working lanterns, as and for the purpose described.

3. In signal-lanterns, the chamber D at the bottom and chamber g at the dome, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In combination with the chamber g, the curved flange s, acting as a draught-dellector, substantially as described.

W. H. WARD.

Witnesses:

A. E. H. JOHNSON,

J. W. HAmLToN JOHNSON. (158) 

